A total of 93 nurses are set to fill staffing needs across Cyprus' public hospitals, with recruitment already under way and successful candidates being assigned to positions where vacancies exist.
However, complaints are being raised that many nurses are being posted a considerable distance from their permanent place of residence.
"Each hospital has its own structure and requires specific staffing levels," State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou said on Politis Radio's Defteri Matia programme when asked to explain the long distances some nurses have to travel to work.
The most striking example, he noted, is that of nurses travelling from Polis Chrysochous to Nicosia, a journey that, together with the return trip, can consume almost an entire day.
Charilaou explained that Nicosia General Hospital requires 980 nurses in order for all its departments and services to function properly, while the staffing needs of other hospitals are lower.
He acknowledged that there is strong interest from nurses living in Paphos and Limassol, but stressed that the number of available positions in those districts is limited.
Points system and transfer requests
Charilaou said that nurses who travel long distances and later apply for transfers are entered into a points-based system from the moment they are recruited.
As an example, he noted that some nurses may work three consecutive 12-hour shifts and then have four days off, a system designed to help maintain family life despite the commute.
The transfer list is published annually and everyone knows their position on it, he added, stressing that no one can bypass the process.
According to Charilaou, this ensures transparency and helps maintain order in transfer arrangements.
He noted that only eight new nursing positions are currently available in Paphos. These positions will be filled by nurses who are currently working in Nicosia or Limassol, have accumulated the highest number of points and have been commuting for five or six years.
Fatigue and quality of care
Asked about concerns that nurses spending two-and-a-half to three hours travelling to work may already be exhausted before starting their shift, Charilaou said a number of arrangements are available to ease the burden.
These include allowing nurses to work 12-hour shifts on certain days so they can complete their required hours while travelling to work less frequently.
Some eventually resign
Appearing on the same programme, Prodromos Argyrides, president of PASYDY's nursing branch, acknowledged that historically only about two-thirds of the positions advertised in public hospitals attract a positive response from applicants.
Most recruits come from the Limassol and Paphos districts and transportation is provided for them, he said.
According to Argyrides, 40 nurses from Paphos and 135 from Limassol are currently commuting to Nicosia while waiting for their transfer requests to be approved when their turn comes.
He acknowledged, however, that there have been cases where nurses eventually resigned because they could no longer cope with the hardship and inconvenience of the commute.
